Manufacturing Engineering

The nitrogen-doped diamond films have been successfully synthesized by using urea as the nitrogen source. Selected-area deposition of diamond nuclei was formed by using a SiO 2 layer as the masking material. Diamond pads, around 9 mm in diameter, were obtained when the N-doped diamond films were deposited on these patterned diamond nuclei using the chemical vapor deposition process. An emission current density as high as 200 mA/cm2, with a turn-on field of around 8 V/mm, was obtained. However, the diamond emitters broke down easily, which is ascribed to the localized melting of the substrate materials surrounding the diamond pads.

Industrial port cities are essential components in a society dependant on fossil fuels and low cost energy. In the global move towards a low-carbon society, industrial port cities are emblematic of complex and integrated socio-ecological systems, which are experiencing transition processes related to interactions between bio-geo-physical components and governance. Using a socio-ecological system framework, this article provides insights into innovative regional eco-industrial development strategies for moving toward a low-carbon future in industrial port areas. Based on three case studies (Marseille-Fos in France, Ningbo in China, and Ulsan in South Korea), our analysis focuses on the changing relationships between energy, land cover, time use, and governance. The historical socio-ecological transition of industrial port cities is described as a stepwise process of spatial and functional disconnection/connection of port industrial complexes, which decouple/combine the port city's metabolism from local resources. We highlight the impacts of globalization on port-city socio-ecological trends, describing the effects of the integration of port cities into global economic processes, the impact of global awareness on global environmental changes, and the accelerating pace of change. We compare low-carbon strategies, revealing similarities in terms of conversion toward low carbon sources and growing connectedness and functional diversity of port-industrial systems.

A new method based on a computer vision and statistical learning system is proposed to estimate the wear level in cutting inserts and to identify the time for its replacement. AISI SAE 1045 and 4140 steel bars of 250 mm of length and 90 mm of diameter were machined using a CNC parallel lathe. The image acquisition system comprised a Pulnix PE2015 B/W camera; a 70XL industrial zoom, with an extension tube of 1X; several lenses, a DCR®III regulated light source and a diffuse lighting system. The images were captured by a Matrox Meteor II card and pre-processed and segmented with Matlab. For each wear region, a set of 9 geometrical descriptors was obtained. The cluster analysis revealed the presence of three distinct categories that corresponded to low, medium and high wear levels. The effectiveness of the classification was verified by means of a LDA class reconstruction that reported a Fowlkes-Mallows index of 0.8571. The LDA likelihood estimates of the wear region provide a useful tool insert replacement criterion. ABSTRACT A new method based on a computer vision and statistical learning system is proposed to estimate the wear level in cutting inserts and to identify the time for its replacement. AISI SAE 1045 and 4140 steel bars of 250 mm of length and 90 mm of diameter were machined using a CNC parallel lathe. The image acquisition system comprised a Pulnix PE2015 B/W camera; a 70XL industrial zoom, with an extension tube of 1X; several lenses, a DCR®III regulated light source and a diffuse lighting system. The images were captured by a Matrox Meteor II card and pre-processed and segmented with Matlab. For each wear region, a set of 9 geometrical descriptors was obtained. The cluster analysis revealed the presence of three distinct categories that corresponded to low, medium and high wear levels. The effectiveness of the classification was verified by means of a LDA class reconstruction that reported a Fowlkes-Mallows index of 0.8571. The LDA likelihood estimates of the wear region provide a useful tool insert replacement criterion.

With the anticipated widespread usage of metal matrix composites (MMCs) in the near future, the machinability of high performance MMCs needs to be understood. This paper reports research results obtained from the grinding of aluminum-based MMCs reinforced with Al 2 O 3 particles using grinding wheels having SiC in a vitri®ed matrix and diamond in a resin-bonded matrix. The issues discussed are surface roughness, grinding force, type and size of the abrasives, grinding conditions, and the consequential sub-surface integrity. The study used grinding speeds of 1100±2200 m/min, a grinding depth of 15 mm for rough grinding and 1 mm for ®ne grinding, and cross-feeds of 3 and 1 mm for rough and ®ne grinding respectively, while maintaining a constant table feed-rate of 20.8 m/min. The surface integrity of the ground surfaces and sub-surfaces were analyzed using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and a pro®lometer. The surface ®nish values, R a , were scattered in the range 0.15±0.70 mm for the rough-ground samples, whilst a narrower range of 0.20±0.35 mm was achieved for the ®ne-ground samples. Smearing of aluminum on the ground surfaces was seen for rough grinding, but was negligible for ®ne grinding because all the Al 2 O 3 particles of the ground surfaces were clearly visible when observed with the SEM. Grinding using a 3000-grit diamond wheel at depth of cut of 1 mm produced many ductile streaks on the Al 2 O 3 particles. Both the Al 2 O 3 particles and aluminum matrix were removed by micro machining. There were no cracks and defects found on the ground surfaces. There was almost no sub-surface damage, except for a rare cracked particle being found. Rough grinding with a SiC wheel followed by ®ne grinding with a ®ne-grit diamond wheel is recommended for the grinding of alumina/aluminum composites. # 2002 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.

Several global corporations have been severely criticized by different lobbying groups for the impact of their operations on the natural environment and on the local communities. Because corporate operations cannot be studied in isolation but rather as a part of a large network often referred to as a supply chain, this paper investigates the potential link between supply chain characteristics and sustainable development at the country level. In particular, the linkage between supply chain strength, generally defined as the number and quality of the suppliers and customers in a country, and the three dimensions of sustainable development namely environmental performance, corporate environmental practices, and social sustainability is assessed. Using archival data from The Global Competitiveness Report (2004)(2005) and the 2005 Environmental Sustainability Index, a statistical assessment of the linkage was conducted.

SIMAP is the abbreviated name for the Intelligent System for Predictive Maintenance. It is a software application addressed to the diagnosis in real-time of industrial processes. It takes into account the information coming in real-time from different sensors and other information sources and tries to detect possible anomalies in the normal behaviour expected of the industrial components. The incipient detection of anomalies allows for an early diagnosis and the possibility to plan effective maintenance actions. Also, the continuous monitoring performed allows for an estimation in a qualitative form of the health condition of the components. SIMAP is a general tool oriented to the diagnosis and maintenance of industrial processes, however the first experience of its application has been at a windfarm. In this real case, SIMAP is able to optimize and to dynamically adapt a maintenance calendar for a monitored windturbine according to the real needs and operating life of it as well as other technical and economical criteria. In particular this paper presents the application of SIMAP to the health condition monitoring of a windturbine gearbox as an example of its capabilities and main features.

Plasma-substrate interactions in diamond synthesis via microwave plasma-assisted chemical vapor deposition (CVD) are an important issue in CVD reactor optimization. The hot spot formation observed during single-crystal diamond synthesis in 2.45-GHz cylindrical cavity reactors is examined after long-run deposition.

Recent improvements in machine and spindle designs have led to the increased use of high-speed machining (HSM) in the manufacture of discrete parts, especially in the aerospace industry . HSM seeks to increase depth of cut, and the corresponding material removal rate (MRR), through the selection of optimum cutting parameters. It is recognized that a major practical limitation on the productivity of HSM systems is regenerative chatter [2]. One method of pre-process chatter prediction and avoidance is the well-known stability lobe diagram. Stability lobe diagrams, which predict system stability as a function of selected machining parameters, are can used to select the best available spindle speed for maximized MRR. Stable and unstable regions (separated by the stability "lobes") are seen in these diagrams, depending on the selected spindle speed and axial depth of cut, b, for peripheral end milling.

In this work, optimisation of process parameters used for gas metal arc welding of dissimilar metal joint involving duplex stainless steel (DSS) to grade ASTM/UNS S32205 and weathering steel CORTEN-A to grade ASTM A242 is attempted. Such dissimilar metal joint finds application in transportation industry, especially in rail car fabrication. Square butt joint between 2mm thick sheets welded using gas metal arc welding (GMAW) process with CO 2 as shielding gas and flux cored wire of grade 309L as filler material has been considered for the study. L9 Taguchi array has been used for optimisation with tensile strength of the resulting weld joint as the required quality characteristic. The process parameters of GMAW process, such as voltage, wire feed rate and welding speed at three levels are considered for optimisation. Influence of each factor has been examined with ANOVA. Optimum set of parameters were arrived at and it was also found that, voltage is the most influential factor. Confirmation test has been carried out to verify the results.

This paper presents a model for the three-dimensional (3D) dynamic response of endmills while considering the actual fluted cross-sectional geometry and pretwisted shape of the tools. The model is solved using the spectral-Tchebychev (ST) technique. The bending and the coupled torsional-axial behavior of four different fluted endmills is compared to finite element model (FEM) predictions and experimental results obtained using modal testing under free-free boundary conditions. For the first eight modes, including six bending and two torsional/axial modes, the difference between the 3D-ST and experimental natural frequencies is shown to be 3% or less for all four tools tested during this study. For the same modes, the 3D-ST and FEM predictions agree to better than 1%. To demonstrate its application, the 3D-ST model for the fluted section of a commercial endmill is coupled to the spindle–holder to predict the tool-point dynamics using receptance coupling substructure analysis (RCSA) with a flexible connection. The coupled model is validated through experiments.► Models for 3D dynamics of endmills, with actual cross-sectional geometry and twist are presented. ► Spectral-Tchebychev technique is used for deriving the tool models. ► Extended receptance coupling substructure analysis technique is integrated. ► Predicted tool tip response is validated with experiments.

Air pollution is one of the major environmental problems confronting developing countries like Nigeria. Lagos, a state in Nigeria is endowed with many commercial and industrial activities. These activities as well as vehicular emissions, use of generators, biomass combustion, refuse burning among others releases a variety of substances into the atmosphere, thus leading to the pollution of the air. Hence, a high degree of air pollution control is essential.
In this study, the air quality of Okota and Surulere metropolis of Lagos were assessed and evaluated for pollution and its implications determined. Data for the study was generated through sources like questionnaires, observations, and direct measurement. The air pollution measurements were carried out using direct reading, automatic in-situ gas monitors: KANOMAX Handheld Laser Particle Counter (model 3887A) for particulate matter (PM0.3, PM0.5, and PM5) while TOXIRAE II for CO, SO2, and NO2. In Okota Metropolis, the monitored junctions were Cele Bus Stop, Okota Roundabout Bus Stop, and Ago Palace Bus Stop while Ojuelegba, Itire, and Lawanson bus stops were monitored at Surulere metropolis. The University of Lagos botanical and zoological garden was used as the control.
The measured parameters were found to be in the following ranges for average readings. For Okota metropolis: CO (1.3 – 28ppm), SO2 (0 – 9ppm), NO2 (0ppm), PM0.3 (7.4 - 96μg/m3),PM0.5 (7.2 – 94.9μg/m3), and PM5 (9 – 66.9μg/m3) while the readings for Surulere metropolis were: CO (0 – 13ppm), SO2 (0 – 8ppm), NO2 (0ppm), PM0.3 (6.4 – 18.8μg/m3), PM0.5 (5.2 – 96.5μg/m3), and PM5 (11.2 – 84.9μg/m3). Results of this study confirmed that the dwellers or passers-by of Okota and Surulere metropolis were being exposed to high levels of the air pollutants (CO, SO2, PM). This shows that people who spend long hours along roadsides at both study areas were at risk of having respiratory diseases. In conclusion, environmental policies should be reviewed. Extensive public awareness/sensitization, strict enforcement of existing legislations should be enforced to curtail air pollution in Lagos.

Temperature measurements are employed for research into the mechanics of grinding and for process monitoring. Temperature measurement in grinding presents a number of challenges particularly in High-Efficiency Deep Grinding (HEDG). High work-speeds require fast response and deep cuts require measurement over a large temperature field. High-speed fluid delivery creates problems for all types of temperature measurement. Electrical noise may require zero-shift filtering. Several techniques of temperature measurement are described. The merits and problems using thermocouple techniques are discussed in detail. In particular, the effect of junction size and shape are discussed. It is shown that the shape and size of the junction have a strong effect both on the reliability of the signal and on the accuracy of the signal. Other problems discussed include improvement of signal to noise ratio, measurements under wet grinding conditions and a technique for measuring contact surface temperatures when taking deep cuts in creep grinding and high-efficiency deep grinding. q

In this paper we present the second generation receptance coupling substructure analysis (RCSA) method, which is used to predict the tool point response for high-speed machining applications. This method divides the spindle-holder-tool assembly into three substructures: the spindle-holder base; the extended holder; and the tool. The tool and extended holder receptances are modeled, while the spindle-holder base subassembly receptances are measured using a "standard" test holder and finite difference calculations. To predict the tool point dynamics, RCSA is used to couple the three substructures. Experimental validation is provided.

3-D printing has entered the consumer market because of recent radical price declines. Consumers can save substantial money by offsetting purchases with DIY pre-designed 3-D printed products. However, even more value can be obtained with distributed manufacturing using mass customization. Unfortunately, the average consumer is not technically sophisticated enough to easily design their own products. One solution to this is the use of an overlay on OpenSCAD parametric code, although current solutions force users to relinquish all rights to their own designs. There is thus a substantial need in the open source design community for a libre 3-D model customizer, which can be used in any design repository to democratize design. This study reports on the design, function, and validation of such software: the Free Open Source 3-D Customizer. It is demonstrated with a case study of the customization of 3-D printable external breast prosthetics. The results showed that novice users can adjust the available parameters according to their needs and save these to a new file on a website. This PHP (recursive acronym for PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor) library is free and open source and has potential for increasing the usefulness of online repositories to enable distributed manufacturing using consumer customized 3-D printable products.

This paper addresses a highly challenging scheduling problem faced in multi-head beam-type surface mounting devices (SMD) machines. An integrated mathematical model is formulated aiming to balance workloads over multiple heads as well as improving the traveling speed of the robotic arm by incorporating the appropriateness factors in the model to evaluate the compatibility of component-nozzle pairs. The proposed model is a bi-objective mixed integer nonlinear programming one, which is first converted into a linearized model and then directly solved by using the augmented epsilon constraint method for small problem instances. As the model is turned out to be NP-hard, we also develop a Multi-Objective Particle Swarm Optimization (MOPSO) algorithm to solve the model for medium and large-sized problem instances. The parameters of the proposed MOPSO are tuned by using the Taguchi Method and corresponding numerical results are provided. (S.A. Torabi), mhamedy@ut.ac.ir (M. Hamedi), j.ashayeri@uvt.nl (J. Ashayeri).

The principal concerns in driving safety with standard vehicles or cybercars are understanding and preventing risky situations. A close examination of accident data reveals that losing control of the vehicle is the main reason for most car accidents. To help to prevent such accidents, vehicle-control systems may be used, which require certain input data concerning vehicledynamic parameters and vehicle-road interaction. Unfortunately, some fundamental parameters, like tire-road forces and sideslip angle are difficult to measure in a car, for both technical and economic reasons. Therefore, this study presents a dynamic modeling and observation method to estimate these variables. One of the major contributions of this study, with respect to our previous work and to the largest literature in the field of the lateral dynamic estimation, is the fact that lateral tire force at each wheel is discussed in details. To address system nonlinearities and unmodeled dynamics, two observers derived from extended and unscented Kalman filtering techniques are proposed and compared. The estimation process method is based on the dynamic response of a vehicle instrumented with available and potentially integrable sensors. Performances are tested using an experimental car. Experimental results demonstrate the ability of this approach to provide accurate estimations, and show its practical potential as a low-cost solution for calculating lateral tire forces and sideslip angle.

Power electronic converter-fed high performance AC drives belong to high-tech industry and are one of main factors for energy saving and productivity growth. This paper reviews present state and trends in development of key parts of controlled induction motor drive systems: converter topologies, modulation methods, as well as control and estimation techniques. Following topologies are described: Two-and Multi-level Voltage Source Converters, Current Source Converters and Direct Converters. Among the modulation techniques are briefly presented: conventional bipolar and unipolar PWM, space vector modulation (SVM) with extension for multilevel converters, harmonic control techniques, variable frequency modulation (hysteresis, nearest level, and model predictive techniques). About the control strategies, the generic torque control methods are described in two groups: linear and nonlinear controllers. In linear group are presented field oriented control (FOC), direct torque control (DTC) with voltage SVM, and DTC with flux vector modulation (DTC-FVM). The group of nonlinear control include: classical switching table based hysteresis DTC, direct self control (DSC) and predictive DTC scheme. Also, selected simple flux vector observers/estimators are discussed.

This paper aims to predict the hand values (HVs) and total hand values (THVs) of functional fabrics by applying the fuzzy logic model (FLM) and artificial neural network (ANN) model. Functional fabrics were evaluated by trained panels employing subjective evaluation scenarios. Firstly, the FLM was applied to predict the HV from finishing parameters; then, the FLM and ANN model were applied to predict the THV from the HV. The estimation of the FLM on the HV was efficient, as demonstrated by the root mean square error (RMSE) and relative mean percentage error (RMPE); low values were recorded, except those bipolar descriptors whose values are within the lowermost extreme values on the fuzzy model. However, the prediction performance of the FLM and ANN model on THV was effective, where RMSE values of ∼0.21 and ∼0.13 were obtained, respectively; both values were within the variations of the experiment. The RMPE values for both models were less than 10%, indicating that both models are ro...

Miura-ori patterned sheets have been recognized as efficient energy absorption devices that can serve as the core of sandwich structures or a layer of metamaterials. In this paper, first, the geometric characteristics of a Miura-ori patterned sheet were examined. Second, a Miura-ori patterned sheet was fabricated using 0.3-mm thick aluminum sheets by three-step compression, and the patterned sheet was used as the core by bonding it between two aluminum skins to make a sandwich panel. The quasi-static out-of-plane compression behavior of both the Miura-ori patterned sheets and their corresponding sandwich panels was investigated experimentally and numerically by using finite element analysis (FEA). The simulation results show a reasonable agreement with the experimental results. A parametric analysis of the Miuraori patterned sheets was carried out using FEA to demonstrate the effect of cell wall thickness, side length, dihedral angle and sector angle. Empirical formulae were obtained for the peak crushing force and the mean force.

This paper presents a new intensity-to-time processing paradigm suitable for very large scale integration (VLSI) computational sensor implementation of global operations over sensed images. Global image quantities usually describe images with fewer data. When computed at the point of sensing, global quantities result in a low-latency performance due to the reduced data transfer requirements between an image sensor and a processor. The global quantities also help global top-down adaptation: the quantities are continuously computed on-chip, and are readily available to sensing for adaptation. As an example, we have developed a sorting image computational sensor-a VLSI chip which senses an image and sorts all pixel by their intensities. The first sorting sensor prototype is a 21 2 2 2 26 array of cells. It receives an image optically, senses it, and computes the image's cumulative histogram-a global quantity which can be quickly routed off chip via one pin. In addition, the global cumulative histogram is used internally on-chip in a top-down fashion to adapt the values in individual pixel so as to reflect the index of the incoming light, thus computing an "image of indices." The image of indices never saturates and has a uniform histogram.

Dynamic decision problems constrained by time are of highly-interested in many aspects of real life. This paper proposes a new concept called the Dynamic Interval-valued Neutrosophic Set (DIVNS) for such the dynamic decision-making applications. Firstly, we define the definitions and mathematical operations, properties and correlations of DIVNSs. Next, we develop a new TOPSIS (Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution) method based on the proposed DIVNS theory. Finally, a practical application of the method for evaluating lecturers' performance at the

Generation of particle defects in semiconductor manufacturing is inevitable, but it has to be minimized to enhance IC yield. There are various causes for the generation of particle defects in different semiconductor manufacturing processes, such as diffusion, thin-film deposition, lithography, etch, and clean. In this paper, primary defect generation mechanisms in thin-film deposition processes, such as atomic layer deposition TiN, radio frequency physical vapor deposition Ti, and physical vapor deposition TiN, are discussed. Various strategies, such as periodic clean optimization, on-load clean, idle pasting, periodic pasting optimization, kit life optimization, target burning optimization, and kit hardware selection that reduce the generation of defects in the thin-film deposition processes are presented. This paper also discusses hardware-induced surface defect and solutions to reduce them.

The development of the Toyota Production System (TPS) based on principles of lean technology has especially impressed numerous manufacturers around the world. It attaches remarkable importance to reducing and then eliminating waste and focusing on ...

Cotton is not the answer to meet the rapidly growing demand for textile fibers. Wood-based regenerated cellulose fibers are an attractive alternative. Since wood is a candidate to replace fossil raw materials in so many applications of the circular economy, other sources need investigation. Cotton linters work in the viscose process – can cotton waste be used to make dissolving pulp? We describe the textile qualities of lyocell fibers from (i) pure cotton waste pulp and (ii) blending with conventional dissolving pulp. The staple fibers were tensile tested, yarns spun and tensile tested and knitted, and tested for shrinkage, water and dye sorption, abrasion resistance, fuzzing and pilling, staining and fastness. TENCEL® staple fibers and off-the-shelf TENCEL® yarn were used as references. The results show that the two study fibers had tenacity and an E-modulus that exceeded the staple fiber reference. Also, the study yarns were at least as good as the spun reference yarn and the comm...

In the context of an increasing commitment to water efficiency in the EU policy, a different approach for eco-efficiency assessment in the agricultural sector, at the meso level, was applied to the Monte Novo irrigation perimeter, located in the southern region of Portugal, targeting the new agricultural paradigm being implemented in the Alentejo region, focusing on the assessment of the environmental and economic impacts and the eco-efficiency performance associated with the water value chain for both the baseline scenario and a set of potential eco-efficiency agricultural improvements. These improvements would be resource efficient or pollution preventing. The agricultural eco-efficiency improvements which promote the efficiency of water use, like the Regulated Deficit Irrigation, allow the reduction of water and energy consumptions, whereas those promoting pollution prevention as the use of sludge from waste water treatment plants or the use of organic fertilizers, make it possible to reduce pollution caused by the use of chemical fertilizers. The selection of the agricultural eco-efficiency improvements to be tested was based on stakeholders' involvement and perceptions; the chosen methodology highlights the impacts of the application of each of those eco-efficiency improvements and the potential investments required, in order to facilitate stakeholders' decisions. The results to be presented focus on the relative performance of the scenarios corresponding to the application of each of the proposed eco-efficiency improvements compared to a baseline scenario. The set of eco-efficiency indicators evaluated is complemented with an economic performance assessment, allowing to present some policy recommendations on technology uptake.

The aim of the study was to improve the efficiency of the double roller cotton gin in terms of ginning output and energy consumption. Therefore a spike cylinder–type gin feeder with the concept of single locking of cotton bolls was developed and optimized. The speed of the spike cylinder of the single locking feeder and cotton moisture were optimized using response surface methodology for long and medium staple cotton. Ginning output of the double roller gin was maximized and the specific energy requirement for ginning was minimized during optimization. Quadratic models were fitted for prediction of ginning output and specific energy. Optimum cotton moisture of 7.38 and 7.15% and optimum spike cylinder speed of 307 and 297 rpm with desirability of 0.9185 and 0.8923 were arrived at using multiple regression analysis for long and medium staple cotton, respectively. Use of the single locking cotton feeder for long and medium staple cotton resulted in a 22 and 25% increase in ginning ou...

The shape of a differential thermal analysis (DTA) curve depends on the sample and the reference, the heating or cooling rates used in the experiment as also the thermal resistance to heat¯ow from the heat source to the cell containing the sample (or the reference), R a (R r). Having access to a database that contains the values of the sample heat capacity, C p , and those of the enthalpy of transformation, H, and calculating the parameters that depend on the apparatus, the cells and the reference, as well as the heating rate used, it is possible to determine the ÁT (T a À T r) values through the equation T a À T r R a dH dt R r C r dT r dt À R a C a dT a dt where C a is the heat capacity of the cell sample system and C b the heat capacity of the cell reference system. The comparison between the calculated and experimental values for ÁT enables an assessment to be made as to whether the modelled parameters are in agreement with the experimental information. This procedure enables a deeper perception of the thermal analysis in general and of the apparatus used in particular.

The purpose of this work was to develop a model for estimating 'dry' and 'wet' thermal resistance of bedding during use. The model takes into account proportions of the body covered by different bedding arrangements, and the effects of an infants sleep position and method of tucking on thickness, thermal resistance and heat loss. Predictions of thermal resistance using various published formulae are compared with those from this study.

Ductile iron can acquire enhanced thermal and mechanical properties from austempering heat treatment. The present study aims to identify the function of different cutting parameters affecting machinability and to quantify its effects. Turning was performed to test machinability according to the ISO3685-1993 (E) standard. After austenitizing at 900 °C for 90 min, austempered ductile iron (ADI) specimens were quenched in a salt bath at 380 °C for 90 min. The cutting force signals along three directions were measured in real time, whereas flank wear and surface roughness were measured offline. For the cutting parameters, the cutting speed and depth of cut were varied, but the feed rate was kept constant. In the flank wear tests, machining length was corresponded to tool life. In addition, in order to find out the effect of cutting parameters on surface roughness (Ra), tangential force (Ft), and flank wear (VB) during turning, response surface methodology (RSM) was utilized by using exp...

Experimental performance evaluation of heat pump-based steam supply system T Kaida, I Sakuraba, K Hashimoto et al. -Fluid-Structure interaction analysis and performance evaluation of a membrane blade M. Saeedi, R. Wüchner and K.-U. Bletzinger -Optimization and performance evaluation for nutrient removal from palm oil mill effluent wastewater using microalgae Raheek I Ibrahim, Z H Wong and A W Mohammad -This content was downloaded from IP address 168.151.1.23 on 24/09

Increasing attention is being devoted to the airborne emissions resulting from a variety of manufacturing processes because of health, safety, and environmental concerns. In this two-part paper, a model is presented for the amount of cutting fluid mist produced by the interaction of the fluid with the rotating cylindrical workpiece during a turning operation. This model is based on relationships that describe cutting fluid atomization, droplet settling, and droplet evaporation. Experiments are performed to validate the model. In Part 1 of the paper, the emphasis is on model development. In the model, thin film theory is used to determine the maximum fluid load that can be supported by a rotating cylindrical workpiece; rotating disk atomization theory is applied to the turning process to predict the mean size of the droplets generated by atomization; and expressions for both the evaporation and settling behavior are established. Droplet size distribution and mass concentration predictions are used to characterize the fluid mist. Model predictions indicate that the droplet mean diameter is affected by both fluid properties and operating conditions, with cutting speed having the most significant affect. Model predictions and experimental results show that the number distribution of droplets within the control volume is dominated by small droplets because of the settling and evaporation phenomena. In Part 2 of the paper, the cutting fluid mist behavior model is validated using the results obtained from a series of experiments.

We report on our empirical studies of a new controller for a two-link brachiating robot. Motivated by the pendulum-like motion of an ape's brachiation, we encode this task as the output of a "target dynamical system." Numerical simulations indicate that the resulting controller solves a number of brachiation problems that we term the "ladder," "swing-up," and "rope" problems. Preliminary analysis provides some explanation for this success. The proposed controller is implemented on a physical system in our laboratory. The robot achieves behaviors including "swing locomotion" and "swing up" and is capable of continuous locomotion over several rungs of a ladder. We discuss a number of formal questions whose answers will be required to gain a full understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of this approach.

The exposure of H-terminated nanocrystalline diamond (NCD) to ultraviolet (UV) light in air and at room temperature modifies the features of the diamond surface, in terms of wettability, electrical conductivity and chemical reactivity. This allows the development of a soft, dry and non invasive method to tailor the surface properties for the development of new chem-or bio-sensors.

Low-power laser scanning techniques provide a powerful tool for a diverse range of automatic inspection tasks. They are more suitable for high component feed rates, less sensitive to changes in ambient lighting and their output requires less processing power than CCD vision systems. In earlier papers, the authors have described typical automotive-related areas of application for laser scanning. The current paper describes recent work concerned with data capture and signal
processing techniques necessary for fully automatic inspection systems with particular reference metal cutting machine tools.

Cutting fluids are an inherent part of the modern manufacturing system. With the increase in the industrialization and development of new materials and processes, there has been a need for developing new cutting fluids with superior performance. For achieving this, cutting fluids have been produced from mineral oil and other additives. The additives used in the cutting fluids are carcinogenic in nature and are harmful to the workers and the environment. Mostly edible oils have been used as cutting fluids in machining. But it has been seen that nonedible oils have the potential to be used in the manufacturing sector to mitigate the detrimental effects of conventionally used cutting fluids without compromising on machining efficiency. The purpose of this review article is to apprise the readers with the current trend in the application of nonedible vegetable oils and their application in machining. This paper entails various aspects of cutting fluids and an up to date and exhaustive review on the latest literature on the effectiveness of nonedible oils and its modified versions, blended oils, ionic liquids, and nanoparticles as additives is done to understand the efficacy of nonedible vegetable oil-based cutting fluids.

The global cement industry produces over four billion tonnes annually. In recent years, the quest for increasing energy efficiency has led this industry to test and use "waste" materials as alternative fuels (AF). The objective of this study was to examine the use, as alternative fuel, of the shredded non-recycled plastics and paper residue (NRPP) of a materials recovery facility at the Balcones plant in San Antonio, Texas; this material has a Lower Heating Value (LHV) of about 17 MJ/kg and is called "engineered fuel" (EF). The results showed that EF consists of mostly paper fiber, a biogenic material, so its use helps to decrease CO 2 emissions from cement production. In the US, on an average about 4.3 MJ of thermal energy are used to dry, decompose, and sinter the carbonate minerals to produce one kg of "clinker" that is then ground to cement powder and mixed with other compounds. If the maximum amount of EF that can be used by the U.S. cement industry (83 million tonnes of cement per year) were to be separated at Material Recovery Facilities and used as alternative fuel in cement kilns, the diversion of non-recycled paper and plastics from landfills would amount to 17.7 million tonnes of EF. The general methodology used for the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is Eco-indicators 99 that uses the SimaPro database and four scenarios were assessed. The corresponding chemical structure of the EF was calculated and the associated emissions during combustion were determined. The laboratory analyses determined the average makeup of the sampled fuels consisted of 20% fossil based carbon and 80% biogenic. The use of EF in the cement industry reduces greenhouse gas emission by up to 3 tonnes of CO 2 per tonne of EF used in place of a highquality coal. The study also found that use of EF in cement production has no adverse effect on the stack emissions of cement plants, nor on the quality of cement produced. The mercury concentration in the stack gas of U.S. cement kilns is well below the U.S. standard and the total dioxin emissions of all cement plants amount to only 0.05% of the dioxins emitted by all U.S. sources. Furthermore, the cement process incorporates the residual ash in the EF into the final clinker, thus resulting in both energy and materials recovery.

With the use of a case study methodology, the socially responsible enterprise La Feuille d'Erable, based in north-west France, was analysed based upon the framework proposed by Boons and Ludeke-Freund (2013). Within an overarching green management philosophy, this firm incorporates a program for the integration of socially and economically excluded people into a recycling and upcycling business activity. Our findings suggest that success for social enterprises, that combine the dual aims of green production and inclusion of hitherto disadvantaged groups, under the banner of corporate social responsibility, is linked to several clearly identified factors. The previously proposed typology (Vickers and Lyon, 2014) of environmentally-motivated social enterprises' strategies is amended. Guidelines and insights are offered to managers who may wish to implement socially responsible human resource management (SRHRM) techniques in their own organisations.

Part I of this paper contained a technological description and economic evaluation of a large-scale highend CDW recycling plant in the Lisbon Metropolitan area. It concludes that economic viability is likely under the operating conditions considered, but these may and will very probably change in the near future. The reasons for such assumption have to do with the inherent uncertainty related to CDW generation (which might vary, for instance, due to socioeconomic conditions in the region), such as the variability of CDW input gate fees and tariffs associated with landfilling rejected materials, which are market dependent parameters. This made it necessary to perform an (simplified) economic viability sensitivity analysis, focused on the investment return period and global economic balance. If parameters such as the plant's capacity, the CDW input gate fee and landfill fee are varied, the investment return period is affected in different ways, though its value is generally kept below 8 years, for parameter variations of AE30%. The analysis indicates economic performance for variations in single parameters, except for the plant's capacity, which was considered to vary simultaneously with all others. Extreme best and worst scenarios were also tested in an attempt to define the model's boundaries.

A globally convergent adaptive control scheme for robot motion control with the following features is proposed. First, the adaptation law possesses enhanced robustness with respect to noisy velocity measurements. Second, the controller does not require the inclusion of high gain loops that may excite the unmodeled dynamics and amplify the noise level. Third, we derive for the unknown parameter design a relationship between compensator gains and closed-loop convergence rates that is independent of the robot task. A simulation example of a two-DOF manipulator features some aspects of the control scheme.

As greenhouse gas emissions are a key driver of climate change, sources of CO 2 must be mitigated, particularly from carbon-intensive sectors, like power production. Natural gas provides an increasingly large percentage of electricity; however its lower carbon intensity is insufficient to make proportional reduction contributions to circumvent 2°C global warming. The low partial pressure of CO 2 in its flue gas makes postcombustion capture more challenging increasing the CO 2 in the exhaust assists in enhancing capture efficiency. This paper experimentally investigates the impact of the combination of humidified air turbines and exhaust gas recirculation to increase CO 2 partial pressures, with the aim of evaluating their effects on emissions and turbine parameters at various turndown ratios. It was found that CO 2 levels could be increased from 1.5 to 5.3 vol%, meaning more efficient post-combustion capture would be possible. CO 2 and steam additions increased incomplete combustion when used together at high levels for low turndown ratios (below 60%), with CO increasing from 49 to 211 ppm and CH 4 from 2.5 to 52 ppm; this effect was negated at higher power outputs. Turbine cycle humidification resulted in net improvements to the turbine efficiency, by up to 5.5% on a specific fuel consumption basis.

Today, it can be maintained that the customer is a ‘king’ as he will buy only the products that satisfy his needs and wants. The companies of today are facing new challenges: global business and local operation, standardization, and individualization of products, demanding customers and fierce competition. The company wants to achieve shorter product development time, lower costs, high quality of the product, and finally, customer satisfaction. In order to achieve the set goals, the company has to take into account the customers wants and needs during the new-product-development process. This article presents the mode of description of processes that allow recognition of suitable natural systems and their transformation into technical systems and a model for management of development process. The phases of quality functions deployment (QFD) during the new product development process along with the location for collecting customer needs and wants are presented. A detailed description...

Much textual engineering knowledge is captured in tables, particularly in spreadsheets and in documents such as equipment manuals. To leverage the benefits of artificial intelligence, industry must find ways to extract the data and relationships captured in these tables. This paper demonstrates the application of an ontological approach to make the classes and relations held in spreadsheet tables explicit. Ontologies offer a pathway because they use formal descriptions to define machine-interpretable definitions of shared concepts and relations between concepts. We illustrate this with two case studies on a failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA) table. Our examples demonstrate how the relationship between rows and columns in a table can be represented in logic for FMEA entries, thereby allowing the same ontology to ingest instance data from the IEC 60812:2006 FMEA Standard and a real industrial FMEA. We give relationships in the FMEA and asset hierarchy spreadsheets an explicit r...